VMware, Mitel to Bring UC to Virtual Desktops

This week at VMworld 2011, Mitel and VMware announced a collaboration that will enable a user’s voice and UC applications to be used in a virtual desktop environment.

Specifically, Mitel will integrate its virtualized Unified Communicator (UC) Advanced client software with VMware View 5, so that when users access their desktops with VMware View, they also will be able to access their collaboration tools, including voice, video, presence, secure instant messaging, audio and web conferencing, document sharing, voice messaging and email, from their VMware View client.

Desktop virtualization using VMware View essentially moves desktops and applications into the cloud and delivers them as a managed service, so end-users can access their desktops from qualified devices, including tablets and smartphones.

Stephen Beamish, Mitel’s vice president, marketing and business development, told Channel Partners that the integration essentially associates the voice applications with a desktop. Users have a single sign on to their desktop and calling capabilities, he said, noting they can use any phone, including a mobile phone or softphone to make calls. In addition, users can seamless move calls from mobile to softphone to minimize roaming charges.

This integration is made possible by resolution of some technical challenges, Beamish said. Today, users cannot stream virtualized Mitel voice applications to a virtual desktop without significant impact to performance and latency. Mitel, Beamish said, solved the latency and jitter issues for virtualized voice a few years ago, but now he said they are overcome on softphones as well.

For IT departments, the integration has the added benefit of consolidating the management of UC on mobile devices since its is not just another virtualized application and not resident on those individual devices.

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